High-current proton and deuterium extraction systems

The PBGUNS code is used to explore and optimize high-current extraction system designs for hydrogen and deuterium beams extracted from plasmas. Two subjects are explored: first, the PBGUNS simulations are used to evaluate an analytic procedure for determining suitable plasma electrode shapes for hydrogen-ion beams. Experimental confirmation for this procedure was found in the high-current proton Low-Energy Demonstration Accelerator project at Los Alamos. A second subject is to determine via numerical simulations an initial design for a high-quality deuterium ion beam that could be extracted from a microwave ion source. This work builds on many years experience in design and testing of high-current extraction systems for proton and H^- injectors.